Electric switch



(No Model.) 2 sheetswsneet 1. J. L. HORNIG. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 561,588. Patented June 9, 1896.

(-NO Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. L. HORNIG.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

NC. 561,588. Patented June 9, 1896.

' Z1 Livig"ff UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

JULIUS L. HORNIG, OF STFLOUIS, MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC SWlTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 561,588, dated June 9,1896. Application tiled August 26,1895. Serial N0. 560,622. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JULIUS L. IIORNIG, of the city of St. Louis, Stateof Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof. I

My invention relates to an improved electric switch; and it consists inthe novel construction, combination, and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved switch, thetop plate thereof being removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewtaken approximately on the indicated line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isalongitudinal sectional view taken approximately on the indicated line 33 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow A, same figure.Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken approximately on theindicated line a 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional viewtaken approximately on the indicated line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a topplan view of a modified form of my improved switch. Fig. 7 is alongitudinal sectional view taken approximately on the indicated line 77 of Fig. G.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates asuitable rectangular casing, the same being divided into twocompartments 2 and 3, said compartment 3 having an open bottom. A topplate l closes the entire casing 1, and in said top plate 4 at certainpoints are located apertures 5. Formed integral on the inner faces ofthe end wall and partition between the two compartments 2 and 3 arevertically-arranged guides 5. A rectangular block of insulating material7 is located within the compartment 2, and the ends of said block areheld between the vertical guides G. Keys S firmly hold said block inposition. Formed in the top of said block is a pair of rectangularrecesses 9, and formed in the under side of said block is a single largerecess 10. A vertical bore 11 is formed in the wall between the tworecesses 9. Passing entirely through the block 7 and journaled in thewalls on each side of the recess is a shaft 12, upon which within saidrecess 10 is a lixed disk 13, of suitable insulating material. Fixed inthe disk 125 in such a manner that its ends appear upon the periphery ofsaid disk a slight distance apart is a metallic plate 14, which, whenthe switch is connected, occupies a horizontal plane.

Passing through suitably-arranged apertures in the partition formedbetween the recesses 9 and 10 in the block 7 are suitable brushes 15,the lower ends of which are so formed as to readily contact with thesurface of the disk 13. lVhen said disk 13 is in its normal position,these brushes connect directly with the plate 11. Said brushes 15 extendupwardly into the recesses 9 and have fixed in any suitable manner upontheirupper ends horizontal arms 16, with which the ends of theline-wires 17 connect.

Studs 18 are xed in and extend upwardly from the arm 16. Extendinglongitudinally above the block 7 and engaging directly upon the heads ofthese studs is a plate 19. The lowerend of a retractile coil-spring 2Ois fixed in the lower end of the bore 11, and the upper end of saidspring extends through the aperture formed in the plate 19, and saidupper end is screw-threaded in order to receive a thumb-nut 21.

Located in the recess formed in the top of the recess 10, between thelower ends of the brushes 15, in such a manner as that its ends willride upon the periphery of the disk 13 is a section of mica 22. On thatportion of the shaft 12 that projects forward from the block 7 is an arm23, in the outer end and upper face of which is formed a recess 24.

When the switch is in its normal position, the lower end of the arm 23engages against a lug 25, formed on the front face of the block 7. Fixedupon that portion of the shaft 12 that extends rearwardly from the block7 isa seginent'26, from which projects downwardly an arm 27. Secured tothe lower end of this arm 27 is one end of a retractile coil-spring 2S,the other end of said spring being fixed to the partition-wall betweenthe two compartments 2 and 3.

Pivoted to the rear face of the block 7 is a bell-crank 29, the outerend of the horizontal arm of which is lturned downwardly and providedwith a hook 39, said hook normally engaging the end of the segment 2G.The upper end 31 of the vertical arm of the bellcrank 29 is widened, andin said widened up- IOO per end 31 is pivoted one end of a horizontallyarranged and moving rod 32, that extends through the partition betweenthe compartments 2 and 3 and is pivoted to the upper end ot' a shortvertical arm 33, that is xed upon a rock-shaft 34, the same beingmounted for rotation in bearings 35 in the upper and end corner of thecompartment Fixed upon the rod 32 a slight distance from the partitionand within the compartment 3 is a collar 36, and located upon said rodand interposed between said collar and the partition is a coil-spring37. An arm 3S is iixed upon the center of the shaft 34 and extendsdownwardly and toward the center of the compartment 3. To the outer endof this arm is pivoted in any suitable manner the upper end of a float39, that is fitted to work freely in the lower end of the compartmentLocated upon the top of the block 7 and at one end thereof is anordinary push-button 40 and its proper connections, to which the ends ofsuitable conductors 41 lead, said conductors 41 leading from anannunciator located in the power-house or central station, or any placedesired. This push-button 40 is so located as that it will be throwninto contact when the vertical arm ot the bellcrank 29 is movedrearwardly.

A second push-button 42 and its proper connections are located upon theside of the block 7, and to said push-button are fixed the ends ofconductors 43, that lead to an annunciator located wherever desired.This push-button 42 is directly beneath one of the apertures 5 in thetop plate 4. The remaining apertures 5 inthe top plate 4 arc directlyabove the outer end of the arm 23 and the upper widened end 31 of thevertical arm of the bell-crank 29.

Located upon the opposite side of the block 7 from the side on which thepush-button 42 is located is a third push-button 44 in every way similarto the push-button 42, and to said push-button 44 are connected the endsof conductors 45, that lead to a suitably-located annunciator. One ofthe apertures 5 is formed in the top plate 4 directly above thispush-button 44.

In the modified form of the switch shown in Figs. (5 and 7 the ioat 39and the connections from said float to the upper end of the vertical armof the bell-crank 29 are dispensed with. A perforated ear 46 is formedon the face of the partition between the two compartments in directalinement with the upper widened end 3l of the vertical arm of thebell-crank, and a retractile coil-spring 47 is attached at one end tosaid ear 4G and by its opposite end to the upper end of the vertical armof the bell-crank.

Located within the compartment 3, which in this modified form isconstructed with a closed bottom, is a fuse-box 4S, of any suitableinsulating` material. In the top of said fuse-box are suitablefuse-clamps 49, in which are held the ends of an ordinary fuse 50. A

suitable conductor 51 extends from one of the brush-holders 1G to one ofthe fuse-clamps 49, and from the opposite fuse-clamp a conductor 52leads that connects with the linewire.

The modified form ot the device herein shown and described is especiallyintended for the underground conduit systems of electric railways, andsaid devices are located at suitable distances apart within the conduit,and the connections from the trolley-wire or other conductor are made tothe conductors 17. Thus the entire line or trolley wire is connected ina number of sections.

When the switch is located within the couduit, the proper connectionsmade thereto, and the mechanism within the casing is in position, asshown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the current through the trolley-wireor other conductor passes through one ofthe connections 17 through thebrush and brush-holder in one of the recesses 9, through the plate 14,from thence through the brush and brushholder located in the otherrecess 9, and from said brush-holder through the connection 17 again tothe trolley-wire or conductor.

Should water accumulate and risc in the conduit, before the same canrise to such a height as to seriously affect the trolley-wire or otherconductor said water will act upon the float 39 and raise the same inthe compartment 3. As said float rises the arm 33 will necessarily bemoved and the shaft 34 rocked. The arm 33, being iixed upon said shaft34, will,when said shaft is rocked, move rearwardly. As the bell-crank29 is connected to said arm 33 by the rod 32, said bell-crank will bemoved sufficiently far to allow the hook 30 on the end of the horizontalarm of said bell-crank to disengage from the shoulder on the segment 2G.As soon as said hook disengages, the retractile coil-spring 23 will actand the segment 2G and shaft 12 upon which said segment is fixed will bepartially rotated. The disk 13, being fixed upon the shaft 12, will withthis movement be also rotated, and the plate or conductor 14, passingthrough said disk 13, will be moved out of a horizontal plane, and theends thereof will be out of contact with the brushes 15. Thus electricalconnection through this particular switch-box is broken. As the verticalarm of the bell-crank 29 is thrown rearwardly it will engage against thepush-button 40, and thereby establish a circuit through the conductors41, that lead to an annunciator located in the central station, orwherever desired. Thus said annunciator will show that the main cir cuitis broken or cut out at this particular switch-box.

Vhen the switch is closed and the various parts are in proper positionand it is desired to break the connection through said switch, theoperator passes a suitable tool downwardly through that aperture 5 thatis directly above the vertical arm of the bell-crank 29, and the lowerend of said tool will engage IOO IIO

against the inclined face on the upper end of said vertical arm, andsaid bell-crank will thereby be moved rearwardly far enough to allow theshoulder 30 on the horizontal arm of said bell-crank to disengage fromthe upper corner of the segment 2U. The operations, as previouslydescribed, will then ensue and the connect-ions will be broken. Afterthe connection has been broken in either manner above described, and itis desired to reposition the various parts and to form a connectionthrough the switch, the operator passes a suitable tool downwardlythrough that aperture 5 that is directly above the outer end of the armA3. The lower end of said tool will engage in the recess 2a at the outerend of said arm, and said arm is moved downwardly until it engagesagainst the stop 25. Said arm being rigidly fixed upon the shaft 12,said shaft will be partially rotated and brought into such a position asthat the ends of the plate 14 will be in direct contact with the lowerends of the brushes 15. Thus the proper connection is established. Whensaid parts have assumed this position, the hook 30 will engage over theshoulder or corner of the segment 25 and the various parts will be heldin the proper positions to form a connection until said connection isbroken in the manner previously described. Should the operator desire tosignal to the power-house or central station, he may do so by inserting`a proper tool through either of the apertures 5 that are immediatelyabove the push-buttons 42 and 44, the conductors from said pushbuttonsleading to the annunciator, located as desired. The expansivecoil-spring 3'7 is for the purpose of counterbalancing the weight of theiioat 39. By manipulating the nut 21 upon the upper end of thecoil-spring 2O the tension of the brushes and brush-holders is changed.The piece of mica 22 is for the pur pose of preventing any sparking asthe switch is closed or opened. By removing the top plate 4f, the keysS, and disconnecting the end of the rod 32 from the vertical arm of thebell-crank 29 the entire block 7, with its contiguous mechanism, may beremoved in order to be cleaned or repaired.

The operation of my improved switch when used in connection with afusebox is similar to the operation of the modiiied form of the device..Therefore it will not be necessary to give a detailed descriptionthereof.

A switch of my improved construction is very compact, especiallyapplicable for the conduits in which conductors are located, is positivein action, and possesses superior advantages in point of simplicity,durability, and general efficiency.

I claiml. In an improved switch, a suitable recepu tacle having twocompartments, one having an open bottom, a block of insulating materialarranged within the closed compartment, a spring-actuated disk ofinsulating material arranged for rotation in said block, aconductor-plate located wi thin said disk, brushes held within saidblock, the ends of which normally contact with the ends of theconductor-plate, said brushes being electrically connected to theline-wire, and a iioat in said open-bottomed compartment forautomatically releasing and rotating the spring-actuated disk.

2. The combination, in an electric switch, of a suitable casing, amovable disk 13, a conductor-plate 14 iiXed in said disk with its endsexposed, two contacts which cooperate with said conductor-plate, a stripof mica 22 extending on said disk from a point adjacent one of saidcontacts to a point adjacent the other one of said contacts, to cut offthe spark at said points, and a support for the mica between the saidtwo contacts, substantially as speciied.

3. In an improved switch, a spring-actuated disk of insulating material,a conductor-plate arranged in said disk in such a manner as that itsends appear on the periphery, two contacts which cooperate with saidconduc template, suitable mechanism for tripping said disk, and a floator its equivalent for operating said tripping mechanism.

4. In an improved switch, a suitable box or casing having twocompartments, one with an open bottom, a block of insulating materialarranged within the closed compartment, a shaft journaled in said block,a disk of insulatin g material fixed upon said shaft, a conductorarranged in said disk, a spring-actuated segment iixed upon the shaftoutside the block, brush-holders arranged in the top of said block,brushes located in said brushholders and contacting with the end of theconductor-plate in the disk, a bell-crank pivoted upon the side of theblock, the horizontal arm of which normally engages the springactuatedsegment, a series of contact-buttons arranged on said block, a floatarranged within the open-bottomed compartment, and suitable operatingconnections from said float to the vertical arm of said bell-crank.

5. In an improved switch, a suitable casing having two compartments, onehaving an open bottom, a block of insulating material removably locatedin the closed compartment, a rotating disk arranged within said block ofinsulating material, a conductor-plate passing through said disk in sucha manner as that its ends appear adjacent one another on the periphery,a strip of mica arranged in the block of insulating material between theends of the conductor-plate when the disk is normally arranged, a pairof brush-holders arranged in the top of said block, brushes located insaid brush-holders that normally contact with the ends of theconductor-plate, a tension device for said brush-holders, aspring-actuated segment located upon the shaft on which the disk islocated, a bellcrank pivoted upon the block, the horizontal arm. ofwhich is provided with a hook that engages the shoulder on the segment,a series IIO of push-buttons arranged upon the block and float to therod to vmove the same horizonhaving Conductors leading therefrom tosuittally. 1o ably-located annunoaltors, a horzontally- In testimonywhereof I affix my signature moving Tod pvoted to the vertical arm ofjhe n presence of two Witnesses.

bell-Crank and extending into the open-loot JULIUS L. HORNIG. tomedcompartment, a float arranged to move Witnesses:

vertically Within said last-mentioned oom- JOHN C. HIG-DON,

pmtment, and suitable connections from said MAU D GRIFFIN.

